Classifying apparatus



Aug. 2??, 193%. J. E. GRAF ET AL CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed 3,9, 1935 4 Shams-Sheet M WN N@ MN 6% Aug, 21% i938u 1. E. GRAF ET ALA CLASSIFYING APPARATUS 19, 1955v 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Feb.

Aug 23, i938rA J. E. GRAF Er AL 2,12',51

CLAS S IFYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 19555 4 SheffltswSheet 3 Augo 23, 938, J. E. GRAF ET A1. ZJXLSE CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1935 4 sneensnsheet 4 foi@ 20K e) 204@ mq@ d I9 L 156 /95 u l A96 /Ar/gg (1,?? ma 176 m5 Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Application February 19, 1935, Serial No. 7,290

3 Claims.

In the manufacture ofmetallic sheet material,

by way of example, it is particularly important that they be classified within narrow limits in weight This is frequently done automatically but must be carried on in a very rapid manner, otherwise a high cost of handling results; Among the numerous devices of the prior art are those which impose a slowness of operation such as to make their use prohibitive. In addition, various other typesof apparatus have been devised which employ magnetic elements, which necessarily confine their field of operation to materials which have magnetic tendencies. .These machines are often rendered inaccurate because their magnetic elements set up a residual and Variable magnetic field which not only has a deleterious effect on the weighing mechanism but, in addition, retards the speed at which the sheets could and should be handled. Another undesirable feature of these magnetic devices is that they cause excessive vibrations which directly affect the sensitivity of balance of the weighing mechanism.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel .classifying apparatus which rapidly and automatically weighs and sorts materials within predetermined and close weight -limits and one which at the same time is not confined to materials which are magnetically inclined.

Another object is the provision of a classifying i apparatus of the type described which operates in a continuous and rapid manner and one which is at the same time relatively cheap and easy to manufacture and use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel classifying apparatus which embodies, in part, a weighing mechanism which functions within close limitsupon sheet material which is traveling thereover by gravity, thus obviating the employment of extraneous assisting devices with their deleterious action.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent after referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus of the invention. y

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, shown partly in section,

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views disclosing two modes of operation of the apparatus.

Figures 6 and '1 are enlarged detail views oi part of the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a diagram of a wiring circuit which may be4 used to operate the various devices of the apparatus in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a base for part of the apparatus of the invention. A vertical column 3 is suitably secured on the upper and central portion of the base 2 and carries a telescoplng screw 4 which is vertically adjustable by a handwheel 5. A table 8 is secured to the upper portion of the telescoping screw I and is maintained and braced in correct horizontal position by a plurality of downwardly depending guides 1, each of which telescopes within and is adapted to be secured to a tubular guideway l. These tubular guideways 8 are secured to the base 3 in any suitable manner and are each equipped with a clamping device in order to provide for the securing of the downwardly depending guides 1.

A scale, generally indicated at III, is disposed upon the table 6, being essentially one which is very accurate, but as such forms no part of the present invention. The scale I0 is preferably of that type which provides a horizontal balanceI shafts 22. A plurality of freely rotatable disks.

2S are mounted upon the transverse shafts 22 and are staggered with respect to each other. The inclination of the side rails 2I, rotatable shafts 22 and the rotatable disks 25 provide an extremely eiilcienty and substantially frictionless 'gravity conveyer across which the sheets to be weighed and classified are made. to travel.

A plurality of vertical 4supports 21 are disposed adjacent the base 2 and support a table 28 whose surface is adjacent the horizontal centerfline of the lowermost transverse shaft 22 of the cradle generally indicated at I1. A housing 30 is mounted upon the table 28 and has Ajournaled therein a. rotatable shaft 3l to which there is secured an adjusting device 69.

elongated steel cylinder 32. A pair of ears are secured to each side of the end of the table 28 which is adjacent the base 2 and each pair pro vided with a pin 46. A pair of links 41 are connected on one of their ends to each pin 46, and each carries a roller 49 on the other end thereof. A belt 50 is snugly disposed around each of the rollers 49 in an alined groove in the elongated steel cylinder 32 on the rotatable shaft 3 f.

A plurality of spaced-apart idle rollers 5| are disposed on the table 28 between the shaft 3| and the lowermost transverse shaft 22 of the cradle |1. 'I'hese idle rollers 5I are adapted to assist the gravity feed of the sheets being weighed and classifled from between the belts v50, and their function is augmented by guide plates 52.

A shaft 53 is disposed in the housing 30 immediately above the shaft 3| and journaled in bearings which are resiliently pressed toward the latter by springs 54, A satisfactory adjustment of each of the springs 54 is effected by an individual adjuster, as at 55.

A pair of spaced-apart rubber-covered cylinders 56 are secured to the shaft 53, one above and in Contact with each of the belts 50 which are disposed in the grooves in the elongated cylinder 32.y

A shaft 51 is journaled in the housing 30 in substantial parallelism with the shaft 53, and has secured thereto an elongated steel cylinder 58. A shaft. 59 is disposed in the housing 3| above and offset from the shaft 51 and is journaled in bearings which are resiliently pressed by springs 60. A satisfactory adjustment of each of the springs 60 is effected by an individual adjuster, as at 6|. An elongatedsteel cylinder 62 is secured to the shaft 59 and is adapted to make contact with the elongated steel cylinder 58 on the shaft 51.

A shaft 65 is journaled in the housing 30 in substantial parallelism with the shaft 3|, and below and offset from 'the shaft 51, and has secured thereto anelongated steel cylinder 66.

A shaft 61 is suitably journaled .on the table 28 in substantial parallelism with the shaft 65 and is adjustable with respect thereto by means of an The shaft 61 carries a pair of pulleys 10 around which, and in suitable grooves in the elongated steel cylinder 66 there is mounted a pair-of belts 1|.

A shaft 131s disposed in the housing 30 immediately above the shaft 65 and is journaled in bearings which are resiliently pressed by springs 14. A satisfactory adjustment of each of the springs 14 is effected by an individual adjuster, as at 15. An elongated steel cylinder 16 is secured to the shaft 18 and is adapted tomake contact with the belts 1| in the grooves in the elongated steel cylinder 66.

A shaft 11 is disposed in the housing 30 above and offset from the shaft 13 and is journaled in bearings which are resiliently pressed by springs 18. A satisfactory adjustment of each of the springs 18 is effected by an individual adjuster, as at 19. I'his shaft 11 has secured thereto a pair of spaced-apart pulleys 80.

A pair of vertical extensions 8| are mounted on the end of the table 28 which is opposite that on which the shaft 3| is journaled in the housing 80. A shaft 82 is journaled in the vertical extensions 8|, and carries a pair of relatively rotatable and spaced-apart pulleys 83 which are in alinement with the pulleys on the shaft 11. The shaft 82 is also provided with a relatively rotatable sleeve 84 which is disposed between the pulleys 83; This sleeve 84 carries a laterally extending frame 86 which is rendered adjustable in length by means the highest portion of the cradle i1.

of an adjusting device 81. A shaft 88 is secured to the end of the frame 86 which is remote from" the sleeve 84 and in parallelism with the latter. A pair of spaced-apart pulleys 89 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 88 in alinement with the pulleys 83 on the shaft 82.

A shaft 92 'is journaled in the vertical extensions 8| immediately below the shaft 82 and carries a pair of spaced-apart pulleys 93 which are vertically alined with the pulleys 83. A pair of belts 99 are strung between the various pairs of pulleys 33 and 89 and the pulleys 80 on the shaft 11. These belts 99 are not disposed around the pulleys 93 on the shaft 92, but do, however, make contact with the same on their upper portions. This disposition of the belts 99, and the rotatability of the sleeve 84 on the shaft 82, permits the frame 84 and accordingly the former, to assume various angles of inclination with respect to the horizontal, if such is desired, and for a purpose to be later described.

If desired, the sheets to be weighed and classified may be manually disposed upon the freely rotatable disks 25 on the shafts 22 of the cradle generally indicated at 1. This, however, would necessarily have to be done with the exercise of extreme care; otherwise the scale l0 would be overbalanced with the result that the sheets would be improperly weighed and classified. We, therefore, prefer to provide a conveying device adjacent Accord ingly, a base |05 is disposed beside the base 2 and has erected thereon a plurality of vertical standards |06. Each of these vertical standards |06 is provided with a telescoping support |01. which is suitably clamped in adjusted position. A table |08 is' adapted to be carried by the upper ends of the telescoping supports |01, and is pivotally connected toeach of the latter, as at |09. These pivotal connections permit the table |08 to assume various angles of inclination, with respect to the horizontal,` andpreferably one which is coinci-v dental with the inclination of the transverse Y shafts 22 of the cradle I1.

A pair of vertical extensions lill are mounted on the end of the table |08 which is most adjacent the table 6, and have journaled therein a shaft ||2. An elongated and suitably grooved steel cylinder ||3 is secured to the shaft ||2 for rotation therewith. A pair of vertical extensions I|4 are mounted on the other end of the table |08 and have journaled therein a shaft ||5. An elongated and suitably grooved steel cylinder i6 is secured to the shaft I5 for rotation therewith. A pair of belts ||1 are disposed around the steel cylinders ||3 and |I8, occupying their various grooved portions. A shaft ||9 is disposed in the vertical extensions ||4 above the shaft ||5 and is journaled in bearings which are resiliently pressed by springs |20. A satisfactory adjustment of each o f the springs |20 is effected by an individual adjuster, as at |2l. A pair of rubbercovered rolls |23 are secured to the shaft H9, each of which is in contact with one of the belts I I1 in the grooved portions of the elongated steel cylinder H6.

In order to assist the introduction of the sheets to be weighed and classified between the elongated and grooved steel cylinder I6 on the shaft I|5 and the pair of. rubber-covered rolls |23 on the shaft ||9. an angularly disposed plate |24 is suitably secured to the uppermost portion of the table |08.

In order to operate the apparatus of the invention it is. of course, necessary to impart rotation to a number of the various and previously described shafts, and we have nominally elected those numbered 3|, 51, 65, 11 and II2. This is done in the following manner: A stand |30 is v5 suitably secured to the base 2, on which the table 6 is supported, and has journaled therein a shaft I3I. A sprocket |33 is secured to the shaft I3|. A motor |35 is suitably mounted on the base |05, on which the table |08 is supported, and is pro- 10 vided with a sprocket |36 on its drive-shaft. A chain |38is disposed around, and provides -a drive between, the sprockets |33 and |35. A sprocket is secured to the shaft 3|, as at |40, and a sprocket |4| on the shaft |3I. These sprockets |40 and |4I are connected together by a chain |42.

Each of the shafts 51 and 65 are provided with a sprocket, as at |41 and |49, respectively, which are connected together and to a sprocket |50 on the shaft 3| by a common chain |5I.

to drive a sprocket |53 on the shaft I2 through a chain |54. A'sprocket |56 is carried on the shaft 11 and is driven by a second .sprocket |51 on the shaft 65 through a chain |58. The driving of, the shafts H2, 3|, 51, 65 and 11 serves to actuate the endless belts II1, 50, 1| and 99, which permits the sheets being weighed and classified to move forwardly over the disks 25 on'ithe shafts 22 of the cradle I1, and thence in one ofA three directions as shown by as many arrows in the lefthand portion of Figure 2. e

The sheets to be fed are disposed at the inlet end of the machine'on a stand A, and are classified in one of three piles, on shorter stands B, C

and D. This classification is effected in direct accordance with the weight of each individual sheet. For example, let it be assumed that sheets weighing 40 ounces apiece acre desired to -be stacked on the stand C; then those 'which are :i0 underweight will be stacked on the stand B;

while those which are overweight will be stacked on the stand D. The weight limits may be regulated to a fine degree. This we propose to do by deecting the path of travel of -the sheet being '45 weighed and classified immediately as it passes from between the grooved and elongated steel cylinder 32 and the rubber-coated rolls 56. Accordingly. a pair of vertically spaced lower and upper shafts |60 and |6| are journaled in the housing 30 relatively adjacent and in substantial parallelism with the shafts 3| and 53, respectively. Both of these shafts and |6| are rotatable and each has secured thereto a defiector-blade, as at |62 and |63, respectively. 55 Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, a link |65 is connected on one of its ends to the lower rotatable shaft |60 and on the other of its ends to one end of a vertical shaft |66. The other nd o' the vertical shaft |66 is connected to a solenoid 60 |61 which is secured to the side oi.' the housing 30. A link |68 is connected on one of'its ends to the upper rotatable shaft I6| and on the other of' its ends to one end of a vertical shaft |69.- vThe other end of the vertical shaft |69 is connected to a C5 solenoid |10 which is secured to the side of the housing 30 immediately adjacent the solenoid |61. The solenoids |61 and |10 are operated to position the deflector-blades |62 and |63 in such manner as. to feed the sheets being weighed andclassied 70 in one of three directions as they come from between the elongated steel cylinder 32, on the shaft 3|, and the rubber-coated rolls 56. These three directions are: (1) downward onto the stand B; (2) in a substantially horizontal direction between the elongated steel cylinders 66 A third 20 sprocket |52 is secured to the shaft |3| and serves and 16 on the shafts 65 `and 13, respectively, and thence onto stand C; or (3) upwardly between the elongated steel cylinders 58 and 62 on the shafts 51 and 59, respectively, and thence onto the stand D. These three directions of movement are clearly illustrated by arrows in Figure 2.

The positioning of the deflector-blades |62 and |63 is effected through the solenoids |61 and |10, respectively, through a. suitable electrical wiring circuit by contacts operated by the disposition of the beam I2 of the scale I0. The disposition of the beani i2 is, of course, dependent upon the weight of a sheet upon the disks 25 on the shafts 22 of the cradle I1.

One arrangement of contacts operable in this manner is illustrated in Figure '1 of the drawings. According to this showing, the beam I2 of the scale I0 is provided with'an extension |12 which extends into a contact case |13. A vertical shaft |15 is disposed within the contact case |13 and carries a pair of lower and upper cross-heads, as at |16 and |11, respectively. The cross-heads '|16 and H1 are slidable on the shaft |15 and resiliently maintained apart by a coil-spring |18. The lower and upper ends of the shaft |15 are screw-threaded, as at, and I8I, to accommodate a pair of adjusting nuts |82 and |83, respectively. A vertical extensionv |85 is arranged in' parallelism with the shaft |15 and suitably secured to the cross-head |16. A horizontally disposed lever |86 is pivoted, as at |81, to the vertical extension 85. This lever |86 is provided on one of its ends with a fork, the lower and upper tines of which are indicated at |88 and |89, respectively. This fork, which consists of the tines |88 and |89, carries a cage |9| for a purpose to be la r described.

'Ihe lever |86- s provided on its end opposite the tines |88 and |89 with an electrical contact |93. An electrical contact |94 is suitably secured tothe end of the cross-head |11 which is adjacent the cage |9|-on the tines |88 and |89, while a second electrical contact is secured to the other end thereof, which is adjacent the contact |93.

The end of the extension |12 on the beam I2 of the scale I0 is provided with a head |96 which is disposed in the cage |9I. This permits the beam I2 ofthe scale to rock the shaft |86 about its pivot |81, and the meeting of either the cage ISI with the contact |94, or the meeting of the contact |93 with the contact'l95.

If the sheet being weighed and classified is light (for example, 39 ounces or less) the deflector blades |62 and |63 will occupy the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3. If, on the other hand, the

sheet is overweight (for example, 41 ounces) the defiecto'r blades |62 and |63 will be disposed in the positions shown in Figure 4, while a sheet of ideal weight (for example, i0A ounces) causes vtheir disposition in the manner of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, we have diagrammaticallyillustrated an electrical circuit which satisfactorily operates the various elements in the manner just recited. According to this diagram, the numbers 200 and 20| designate a pair of power lines which are connected with a suitable source of electricity."VV The power lines 200 and 20| are also connected to the ends of the coil of the solenoid |61 through lines 202 and 203, respectively. 'I'he lines 202 and 203 are each interrupted by a pair of contacts, as at 204a and 204D, respectively. These contacts are simultaneously closed by the energization of a coil 204,

which is connected on one of its sides to the line/ 203 between the contacts 20IIb and the power line 20| and on the other thereof to the contact |94 in the contact case |13. A line 205 is connectcd to the line 202 and to the extension |12 on the scale beam I2 by a flexible connection 206.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the raising of the extension |12 on the scale beam I2 will cause the cage I9I in the contact case to make contact with the contact |94, thus energizing the coil 204 to close the contacts 204e and 204|). This, of course, energizes the solenoid |61 to withdraw its operating shaft.

A pair of lines 209 and 2|0fare connected to the lines 202 and 203, respectively, and to the ends of the coil of the solenoid |10. These lines 209 and 2|0 are interrupted by contacts 2I2 and 2I2b, respectively, which are closed by the energization of a coil 2I2. This coil 2I2 is connected on one of its sides to the line 2|0 between the contacts 2I2b and the line 203, and on the other side thereof to the contact |95 in the contact case |13. It will be readily understood that the downward deflection of the extension |12 on the scale beam |2 breaks the contact of the cage I9I with the contact |94 and closes the contacts |93 and |95 in the contact case |13, thereby energizing the coil 2I2 to close the contacts 2I2n and 2I2b.

In this manner the solenoid is actuated to withdraw its operating shaft and move the deflector blade |13 downwardly, the deenergization of the solenoid |61 having caused the defiector blade |62 to occupy a substantially horizontal position.

In operation, a sheet to be weighed and clasi sified is moved downwardly on the belts ||1 and onto the freely rotatable disks 25 on the transverse shafts 22 of the cradle I1. The gravity movement of the sheet over the disks 25 tends to depress the scale platform I4 and the sheet is weighed while out of contact with either the introductory conveyer or the classifying instrumentality, thereby permitting great accuracy. If the sheet is too light, the cage I9I in the contact case |13 will remain closed against the contact |94 with the accompanying energization of the solenoid I 61. The energization of this solenoid moves the lower defiector blade |62 upwardly against the upper deflector blade |63 which occupies a substantially horizontal plane, thus permitting the elongated steel cylinder 32 to feed the sheet downwardly onto the stand B.

If, as an illustration, the next sheet to be weighed and classified proves to be heavy in weight, the extension |12 on the scale beam I2 will be deflected downwardly with the result that the contact |93 will close against the contact |95 to energize the solenoid |10, thereby raising its operating shaft vertically. 'I'his movement of the operating shaft of the solenoid |10 moves the deilector blade |63 downwardly. The lower deector blade |62 is caused to move in a similar manner due to the previous deenergization of the solenoid |61 by the breaking of the contact of the cage I9I with the contact |94. The heavy sheet is thus fed upwardly between the elongated steel cylinders 58 and 62 on the shafts 51 and 59, respectively, and thence onto the endles belts 90 to be deposited on the stand D.

As a sheet of ideal weight moves across the freely rotatable disks 25, the extension |12 on' the scale beam I2 will occupy a substantially horizontal plane, with both contacts |94 and |95 open. Accordingly, the operating shaft of the deenergized solenoid |10 drops to raise the upper deflector blade |63 into a substantially horizontal plane. The solenoid |61 being likewise deenergized permits the lower deflector blade |62 to occupy a parallel plane, thus enabling the sheet to move in a substantially horizontal plane between the elongated steel cylinders 66 and 16 on the shafts 65 and 15, respectively, and thence onto the endless belt 1 I, from which it falls onto the stand C. The movementl of the sheet of ideal weight between the defiector blades |62 and |63 and the elongated steel cylinders 66 and 16 is augmented by an intermediately disposed guide plate 220.

Due to the mechanical lag established by the movement of the extension |12 on the scale beam I2, and its consequent movement of the lever |86, the disposition of the lower and upper deflector blades |62 and |63 respectively remain established until after the sheet has progressed thereover, therebetween or thereunder, as the case may be.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that any sheet material may be accurately weighed and classified within close limits and weight in a rapid and continuous manner, which results in the advantages previously recited.

While we have shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that We do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of our invention, as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically classifying successively fed continuously moving work-pieces according to weight comprising, in combination, a conveyer for uninterruptedly moving the workpieces, a `weighing device, an anti-friction platform carried by said weighing device and disposed at the extreme delivery end of said conveyer for receiving work-pieces delivered therefrom said anti-friction platform being constructed and arranged solely to permit the uninterrupted gravity movement of work-pieces entirely thereover and yieldable under weight to operate said weighing device, a selective classifying device disposed at the extreme delivery end of said antifriction platform for receiving work-pieces delivered therefrom, and means operable by said weighing device for controlling said selective classifying device, said selective classifying device being operable to classify the work-pieces while permitting their uninterrupted movement.

2. Apparatus for automatically classifying successively fed work-pieces according to weight comprising, in combination. a conveyer for continuously moving the work-pieces, a weighing device, a plurality of freely rotatable disks carried by said weighing device and disposed at the extreme delivery end of said conveyer for re, ceiving work-pieces delivered therefrom, said plurality of freely rotatable disks being constructed and arranged to permit the continuous gravity movement of work-pieces entirely thereover and yieldable under weight to operate said weighing device, a selective classifying device disposed at the extreme delivery end of said piurality of freely rotatable disks for receiving workpieces delivered therefrom, and means operable by said weighing device for controlling said selective classifying device, said selective classifying device being operable to classify the work-pieces while permitting their continuous movement.

3. Apparatus for automatically classifying successlvely fed work-pieces according to weight comprising, in combination, a conveyer for continuously moving the work-pieces, a weighing device, an inclined platform carried by said weighing device and yieldable under weight to operate the same, a plurality of freely rotatable disks mounted on said inclined platform and disposed at the extreme delivery end of said conveyer forreceiving work-pieces delivered therefrom, said plurality of freely rotatable disks being constructed and arranged to permit the continuous gravity movement of work-pieces entirely thereover, a selective classifying device disposed at the extreme delivery end of said plurality of freely rotatable disks for receiving work-pieces delivered therefrom, and means operable by said weighing device for controlling said selective classifying device, said selective classifying device being operable to classify the work-pieces while permitting their continuous movement.

JULIUS E. GRAF.

JAMES K. LAMOREE. 

